Schrei der Großstadt (1948)

Schrei der Großstadt: Directed by Robert Siodmak. With Victor Mature, Richard Conte, Fred Clark, Shelley Winters. Police Lieut. Candella, longtime friend of the Rome family, walks a tightrope in the case of cop-killer Martin Rome.

“It is not surprising that so much has been written about the sub genre of the u0026quot;film noiru0026quot;. The execution of a noir film required a tremendous artistry and expertise in all aspects of cinema. The classic noir films are truly works of art; cinema at its best, not relying on star power or big budgets, but rather a mastery of the very rudiments of making movies.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat Ford was to the western, Hitchcock to suspense, Sirk to melodrama, so was Robert Siodmak to the noir. While u0026quot;Cry of the Cityu0026quot; is often left out of discussions of the genre, it is, in many ways a near perfect example of the genre.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBy 1948 the noir was beginning to hit its stride. Siodmak came to this project with much valuable experience. His execution of this not especially remarkable story has a fluidity and assurance of style that one can only marvel at.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDespite the well worn cop vs. gangster tale, there is a potent psychological complexity at the core of u0026quot;Cry of the Cityu0026quot;. Richard Conteu0026#39;s Martin Rome, is charismatic and charming. Not only does he work his magic on unsuspecting females, we the audience are firmly on his side at the start of the movie. As the plot unfolds his ruthless, selfish and manipulative motives become apparent. Yet it will take some time before we are completely convinced. Itu0026#39;s a masterly stroke of screen writing. It will take Victor Matureu0026#39;s impassioned indictment to completely convince us.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eVictor Mature is surprisingly competent in the lead in what must be surely one of his best roles. Richard Conte is simply superb in a complex and tricky role. His method is one of economy and subtlety and a lesson to screen actors. Despite a host of fine performances, Conte seems to not have garnered the respect he deserved.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA classic of its kind.”